A man in a street fracas which ended in the race-hate murder of an Iranian asylum seeker has been spared jail.

A man in a street fracas which ended in the race-hate murder of an Iranian asylum seeker has been spared jail.

Joseph Rutherford, 23, of Gray Road, Sunderland, was convicted of affray at Newcastle Crown Court last month, when his sentence was adjourned for reports.

Mr Justice Henriques has now sentenced him to a two-year community rehabilitation order. He said the factor which above all kept him from jail was his courageous effort to restrain killer, Steven Roberts, from stabbing Peiman Bahmani to death in Hendon, Sunderland.

John Evans, defending, said Rutherford was of previous good character and remorseful for the part he played in the disturbance. Mr Bahmani, 30, of Ashbrooke, Sunderland, died while visiting fellow refugees.